Conner to face Stivender for Lake County Commission seat

January 15, 2008|By Adrian G. Uribarri, Sentinel Staff Writer

TAVARES -- In the early 1970s, as schoolmates at Tavares High, they didn't know it would come to this. But almost 40 years later, Lake County School Board member Jimmy Conner and County Commissioner Debbie Stivender are rivals.

Trying to make the unusual leap from one countywide office to another, Conner filed papers Monday to run for Stivender's seat later this year. He didn't cast an ill word against his fellow Tavares Bulldog during an interview. But his slow-growth philosophy, which has frustrated home builders, serves as a contrast with Stivender's pro-development record, which has angered environmentalists.

In an area where political lines are drawn on the issue of growth, the three-term School Board member's candidacy could ultimately tip a tenuous balance between pro-development and pro-environment forces on the powerful board.

"The land-use attorneys and the large residential developers have had far too much influence over the county," Conner said. "I think that's changing, and I think that's good."

In 2006, Elaine Renick and Linda Stewart ran as slow-growth candidates and unseated veteran commissioners Bob Pool and Catherine Hanson, respectively, who were considered pro-growth.

Stivender, who said she will run but has not yet filed, questioned whether Conner could differentiate himself from her in other ways. Both Republican candidates said they support lower tax rates and smaller county government.

Conner, 53, and Stivender, 54, are not alone in the race. Republican Sean Parks, an elected Lake County Water Authority trustee, announced his candidacy in July.

In addition, Democrat Lisa Cimini, a political newcomer who lives in the Sugarloaf Mountain area, has filed documents to run for the seat held by Stivender. Cimini, 44, incensed by commissioners' approval of a construction-and-demolition landfill in her community, said she will campaign on a slow-growth platform.

The primary is Aug. 26, and the general election is Nov. 4.

Parks, 36, also supports lower tax rates and said he wants to help diversify Lake's economy. He said he favors a balanced approach to growth -- a desire all candidates expressed with varying tones.

"My decisions will be based on, as far as growth management goes, whether the economy, the environment and people are all equally considered," Parks said.

Commissioners must live in a district but serve all of Lake.

Conner's announcement was a formality that confirmed the suspicion -- and perhaps the fear -- of Lake's development community that he would try to unseat one of the county's most recognized stalwarts for growth.

"It's not a surprise," said Jean Kaminski, executive director of the Home Builders Association of Lake County. "We've been hearing for months through the grapevine that he's going to be running."

Kaminski said it is too soon to endorse a candidate -- the association has supported Stivender in the past -- but that, like his candidacy, Conner's stand on development is no mystery.

"He's been pretty much opposed to growth," she said, citing his support last fall for school-impact fees that later passed -- and split -- the County Commission.

Rob Kelly, president of the Citizens Coalition of Lake County, which does not endorse candidates, said Conner would help county commissioners manage growth more effectively. He also cited Conner's support for school-impact fees, and his advocacy for concurrency, as proof of his slow-growth approach.

"He has attempted to try to make growth pay for itself," Kelly said. "I believe that will carry through."